It is with great delight that I announce that Senate Bill 282, which funds a new science
building for UVU, has passed both the Senate and the House by overwhelming margins—something
that just weeks ago appeared nearly impossible. In light of Governor Herbert’s subsequent
and recent approval, UVU will now be granted 45 million dollars to begin constructing
a beautifully designed, state-of-the art, 160,000 square foot science facility. This
has been our top university priority for months now because of how such a building
would advance our academic excellence while creating much needed space to handle our
growth and provide engaged learning opportunities in first rate laboratories. I wish
to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this a reality. It truly was a team
effort, involving many divisions and levels of campus, including students, staff,
faculty, and administrators. We got great support from key community figures, and
our legislative delegation really stepped up at crucial moments, in some cases making
some significant sacrifices in other areas to make this happen. Val Peterson deserves
special mention for spearheading Legislative Affairs with extraordinary energy and
intelligence.

This is a moment to celebrate. It would also be a terrific time to contact your local
representative and senator and thank them for providing us with this building, especially
during these challenging economic times.